Although the Brooklyn Nets secured two consecutive crucial victories at home against the Atlanta Hawks to strengthen their Play-In drive in the latter part of the season, questions still surround the health and progress of Cam Thomas’ and Ben Simmons’ recovery.
For the third straight game, Brooklyn was without a player when they played the Hawks on Saturday due to injuries to Simmons’ left leg and Thomas’s right ankle injury.
Still absent for the time being
After their 114-102 defeat in Atlanta on Saturday, interim head coach Kevin Ollie declared that Ben and Cam are both listed as day-to-day injured while they continue to rehabilitate in the team’s recovery room. Ollie said,
“I just know they’re getting back healthy,” “Slowly but surely, they’re getting back on the court, so they’re just still day-to-day. We trust in our medical staff with all our faith that they’re doing the right things off the court to get better and doing their rehab.”
Have faith in the process
Simmons hasn’t been able to stay healthy for the Nets for the second year running. His recent leg problems represent the newest issue that puts his all-around performance for the ball club to the test. A nerve impingement in his lower back caused him to miss 38 straight games from mid-November to early January. Just fifteen of the sixty games that Brooklyn played during the regular season were played by the three-time All-Star.
Thomas has experienced similar ankle problems in the past, having missed nine games due to an ailment that occurred in November. With his microwave scoring ability, Brooklyn relies heavily on the 22-year-old guard, who is averaging 20.9 points per game.
Ollie is confident that Ben and Cam will return to the starting lineup in the end, even though the two franchise stars are still waiting.
“I know they’re constantly doing their rehab, trying to get better so they can be contributing to this team’s success going forward, so it’s just day-to-day now, but hopefully we’ll see them soon.”
